Stanford Vows To Celebrate; All Team Needs Is A Reason

Stanford’s defensive coordinator wants his players to become party animals - preferably Wolverines.

Not that there has been much for Cardinal defenders to party about in recent years, but doggone it, when they do make that key play or big hit this fall, Bill Harris wants them to let people know about it.

The former Michigan assistant is not only insisting that his players celebrate after every big play they make, he’s making them practice the art form. And he’s hinting that he will bench anyone not willing to join in the festivities.

Harris, after nine years as a Wolverines assistant, hopes to bring not only Michigan’s defensive scheme to Stanford in his first year with the Cardinal, but it’s mentality.

“Coaches used to say, ‘I hate Michigan because they’re always celebrating,”’ Harris told the San Francisco Chronicle recently. “Last spring, a (Stanford) linebacker made a big hit and only one guy came running out to celebrate - (assistant coach) Dave Tipton.”

Harris wants players, not coaches, to do the celebrating in an effort to build enthusiam and get the crowd into the game.

“I not only encourage it, but they better do it if they want to play,” he said. “We’re going to practice celebrating. Let’s get some camera time on defense.”

Everything Harris wants his players to do is legal under NCAA rules, as long as they don’t taunt an opponent or take off their helmets during the celebration. But there is still the nagging question about how often Harris expects his defenders to be able to celebrate.

Last year, the opportunities were few as the Cardinal gave up 400-plus yards and 32.6 points per game.

Tony the Toe

WSU placekicker Tony Truant, who made only nine of the 18 field goals he attempted last fall and missed kicks of 29, 36 and 37 yards, is reportedly sporting a personalized license plate on his car.

The plate reads, “THE TOE.”

Fien and dandy

UCLA quarterback Ryan Fien, who missed the Bruins’ scrimmage last Saturday at the Rose Bowl with a bruised thigh, has returned to practice and appears fully recovered from the injury that has limited his practice time this fall.

“It was very painful,” he said of having to miss his team’s first gamei-style scrimmage, “but it was a smart thing.”

Three offensive linemen, who also missed Saturday’s scrimmage, have rejoined the No. 1 unit and coach Terry Donahue is finally getting a good look at just what he has on offense.

Sun Devil goes down

Most of the reviews coming out of Arizona State’s scrimmage at Camp Tontozona, Ariz., on Saturday were favorable.

The Sun Devils impressed coach Bruce Snyder with their enthusiasm and aggressiveness and junior quarterback Jake Plummer looked sharp, completing 13 of 16 passes.

But junior center Kirk Robertson suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will probably be lost for at least four weeks.

The loss of Robertson might force Snyder to move redshirt freshman Randy Leaphart, a converted defensive lineman, to the starting center position. Leaphart has only been playing the position since the start of fall camp.

Third-and-shorts

Southern California’s offensive line, perhaps coach John Robinson’s thinnest position, thinned down even more last week when center-guard Robert Loya underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. Loya will miss from four to six weeks. … WSU defensive end Dwayne Sanders has been affectionately nicknamed “Baby Shaq” by his teammates. … California offensive lineman Frank Beede has been suspended for the season after reportedly testing positive for steroids.

UCLA will enter the 1995 season with the Pac-10’s longest overall winning streak, a modest three games. … As part of the Pac10’s balanced home-and-away schedule that went into effect four years ago, Washington will not play California this year - a development that has to set well with the Golden Bears, who have lost 14 consecutive games to the Huskies.

WSU’s streak of 149 Pac-10 games without having been shut out is the longest in the league. … USC coach John Robinson has written a book entitled, “Coach to Coach, Business Lessons from the Locker Room,” that will be published this fall by Pfeiffer & Company. The book deals with increasing productivity and efficiency in business by employing coaching principles in the workplace. … UCLA’s Anthony Jones, a heralded linebacker who transferred from Notre Dame two years ago, has quit football because of a shoulder injury.

, DataTimes